Published on March 13, 2024, 12:48 am

Billionaire tech executive and influential figure Elon Musk has expressed his concerns about a proposed bill progressing through Congress. The bill aims to restrict U.S. access to social media applications like TikTok, owned by Chinese entities, unless the said platforms cut ties with overseas adversaries considered harmful to national security.

Musk, who identifies himself as a “free speech absolutist,” responded to comments from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). The legislator had drawn attention to sections of the law that deal with internet sites and businesses providing services for social media networks found violating the proposed regulations.

Massie criticized the potential ban on TikTok as a trojan horse, arguing that it would expand presidential powers to block not only apps but also websites. He clarified that the focus of legislative punishment under this new law would be on United States or offshore web-hosting services or app stores, rather than foreign infiltrators themselves.

In response, Musk highlighted that this legislation gnaws much beyond just TikTok—it symbolizes censorship and government control. Had it been purely about TikTok, the issue at hand would be limited to foreign control. Yet this is not the case, as per his analysis.

The contentious legislation goes by “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.” It was introduced with bipartisan support combining GOP lawmakers such as House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and established Democratic figures like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

As per a press release from the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, this bill aims to prohibit app stores or web hosting services in America for applications controlled by firms like ByteDance —including TikTok—unless they sever links with enablers subject to foreign adversaries’ control.

Further explaining the act’s intricacies, it was mentioned it formulates a process for President Biden’s administration to identify certain social media apps posing a national security risk due to foreign control. These apps will face prohibition on app store and web hosting services in the U.S., unless they disengage from bodies controlled by a foreign threat through divestment.

Last week, the bill achieved a bipartisan passing score of 50-0 through the House Energy and Commerce Committee. With this, it is now set for a floor vote possibly even this week. President Biden has voiced his intent to sign the bill into law if it successfully navigates through both legislative chambers.

On the other end of the spectrum, TikTok warned that this proposed legislation would trample on the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans while depriving numerous small businesses of an essential platform for their growth and job creation efforts.

Meanwhile, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Chairperson of The House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between US and Chinese Communist Party introduced this legislation alongside Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), panel’s ranking member. In response to the concerns raised by Musk and Massie, Gallagher defended the act stating it is carefully designed to impact only foreign adversary-controlled social media platforms that pose a security threat—like TikTok.

He argued further that as per this law, only certain websites powering adversarial social media apps would be targeted. He noted that Chinese Communist Party doesn’t have any First Amendment right for spreading harmful influence operations on American soil. According to him, there should be actions taken to separate ByteDance’s ownership from TikTok.

Gallagher emphasized that his proposed policy presents TikTok with two avenues—either respect its users by operating as an American company free from threats of propaganda and censorship or side with Chinese interests. The decision rests ultimately with TikTok.